Vacuum-control mechanism for pulp-molding machines and the like



Aug. 14,1928. 1,680,893

I J. F. Low

VACUUM CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PULP MOLDING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed0013. 3L, 1927 INVENTOR:

Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

UNITED STATES JAMES FLEMING I JOW, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

VACUUM-CONTROL MECHANISM FOR PULP-MOLDING- MAGHINES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 31, 1927. Serial No. 230,021.

This invention relates to a vacuum control mechanism for pulp moldingmachines and the like, as described in .the present specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawings which form part of same.

The invention consists essentially of the novel features pointed outbroadly and specifically in the claims for novelty following adescription containing an explanation in detail of an acceptable form ofthe invention.

The objects of the invention are to provide a Very efiicient controlmechanism controlling the flow or displacement of a fluid from one partof a machine to another, where one of such parts is fixed and theotheris movable; to especially adapt such a control chamber to machinesrequiring the' maintaining of a partial vacuum in one or more of itsfunctional parts; to reduce wear and leakage to aminimum; to easilyreplace the parts subjected to wearing and to reduce the number of suchwearing and rubbing parts to a minimum; and generally, to improve uponknown control chambers.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a chamber built inaccordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is an end view of a shaftshown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the shaft.

Figure 4 is a perspective 'view of the casting or casing shown in Figure1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the wax washer.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the variousfigures.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is a rotatable member of a machine (notshown), this member taking the form of a hollow shaft 11 having rigidtherewith a plug-like portion 12 extending into the reduced portion 13which turns in suitable bearings (not shown). The form of the inventionas herein disclosed is taken from a pulp molding machine, an applicationfor a patent of which machine was filed on the 16th day of December,1926, as serial No. 155.306, and reference to the specification formingpart of that application is invited as illustrating a specific practicalapplication of this present invention.

A number of pipes 14 are led from a functional part of the machine (notshown)--say suction dies such as disclosed in the said application,Serial No. 155,306,

which require the application of a vacuum to cause a layer of p'ulsubstance to be deposited upon their mo ding faceto the outer end face15 of the plug-like portion 12.

The pipes 14am passed through the holes 15A in the portion 12 and havetheir ends threaded as at 17 to receive suitable nuts 18 which fit intodepressions 19 counterbored into the end face 15. The depressions aremade deep enough to allow a clearance between the face 15 and the nuts.It will be manifest that the function of these nuts is to rigidly securethe pipes in position.

20 is a flat disc of wax or other suitable material made to a diameterapproximately equal to that of the portion 12 and fitting over thereduced portion 13, and having ports 21A therethrough spaced to be inalignment with all of the pipes 14 when any one of-said pipes is inalignment with any one of said ports. 7

20A is a metal disc perforated in the centre and fitting over thereduced portion 13; the disc carries the pipes 21 on the outer ends ofwhich are fastened the flexible tubes 22; the flexible tubes areconnected to pipes leading to suitable vacuum producing means or to theatmosphere. The pipes 21 are thread ed into the disc 20A and are spacedto be in alignment with the pipes 14 when any one of the latter pipes isin alignment with any one of the former pipes; suitable nuts 23 arescrewed onto the threaded ends of the pipes 21, fitting into depressions24 counterbored into said disc. The depressions 24 are made deep enoughto allow a clearance between the face of the metal disc and the nuts 23.k

25 is a metal casing or cap sized at the open end to slidably engage theouter end of the hollow shaft 11 and having the end wall 26 perforatedat 27 to form a clearance or a passage for the reduced portion 13 of theshaft 10. The casing 25 is locked against rotation and lateral andlongitudinal movement by any suitable means, as with projections 28bearing in or,,engaging corresponding depressions in a detachablebracket (not shown) secured to a fixed or rigid part of the machinemounting the rotatable shaft 10. or as more particularly described inthe said application filed as Serial No. 155,306. The end wall 26 of thecasting 25 is also perforated at 27A to form a clearance for the passageof the pipes 21.

30 are springs encircling the pipes 21 and compressed between the wall26 of the "casting 25 and the slidable disc 20A, so'that the springsnormall ur e the disc toward the face 15 of the p ug-li e portion 12. Asthe wax washer 20 is to be secured against rotation and also secured ina predetermined position relative to said disc 20A, namely, sopositioned that its ports 21A are in alignment at all times with thepipes 21, suitable means are provided, such' as dowel pins 31 rigidlysecured to the disc and projecting into the wax washer 20. As the shaft10 rotates and the wax washer gradually wears down, the compressedsprings 30 gradually shift the disc 20A toward the wax washer.

In order to prevent dust from penetrating into the chamber and to make atighter joint between the casting 25 and the hollow shaft 11-, the shaftis provided with a shoulder 33 cut into. its edge; a wax washer or ring34: is sized to fill in the space formed by the shoulder, as best shownin Figure 1.

35 are depressions or chambers made into the face of the wax washerrunning from a number of ports 21A and extending partly or completelybetween a number of these ports, according. to the co-operation desiredbetween and the' functions required of each or all the ports or moreparticularly the pipes 21.

As there is a partial vacuum within some of the chambers 35 and thedepressed holes while the empty space'within the casing 25 is opened tothe atmosphere, a pressure is created which exerts a force on the disc20A independent of that exerted by the compressed springs 30.

Operation: As the shaft 10 rotates while the wax washer, the metal discand the casing remain fixed and each of the pipes 14 is successivelybrought into alignment with the several pipes 21, each pipe line 14 thusbeing subjected to varying prearran ed vacuum conditions. When the waxwas er or wearing or rubbing part 20 is worn down, the casing isremoved-and a fresh washer put in. The use of wax reduces 'the wear.-upon the rubbing parts, tends to lubricate, and is a substance very wellsuited for such machines as those to which this present invention isapplicable.

What I claim is:

1. In a vacuum control mechanism for pulp molding machines and the like,a r0- tatable shaft formed with a shoulder to provide a reduced end forjournalling in a bearing, a non-rotatable casing mounted adjacent thereduced end of said shaft and forming therewith a cylinder-likecompartment, passages in said shaft for connection with a functionalpart of the machine mounting said shaft and opening into saidcompartment, a non-rotatable washer slidable in said compartment. a discof soft material removably secured to one face of said washer and enaging said shoulder, said disc having ports t erethrough spaced forregistering with said passa' and depressed to connect a number of emports, pipes carried by said washer in alignment with said ports andprojecting'through the casing for operative connection with apparatus,and compressed springs urging said disc towards said shoulder.

2. In a vacuum control mechanism for pulp molding'machines and the like,a rotatable shaft formed with a shoulder to provide a reduced end forjournaling in a hearing, a non-rotatable casing mounted adjacent thereduced end of said shaft and forming therewith a cylinder-likecompartment, ipes in said shaft for connection wit a functional part ofthe machine mountinnsaid shaft and opening through sai shoulder, anon-rotatable washer slidable in said compartment, a disc of softmaterial removably secured to one face of said washer and engagin saidshoulder, said disc having ports theret rough s aced for registeringwith said pipes and epressed to connect a number of said ports, pipescarried by said washer in alignment with said ports and projectingthrough the casing for operative connection with apparatus, andcompressed springs encircling said last-mentioned pipes and urging saiddisc towards said shoulder. 3. In a vacuum control mechanism for pulpmolding machines and the like, a rotatable shaft formed with a shoulderto rovidc a reduced end 'for journalling in a caring and having saidshoulder counterbored to form nut recesses, a non-rotatable casingmounted adjacent the reduced end of said shaft and forming therewith acylinder-like compartment, horizontally-arranged pipes carried by saidshaft for connection at one end with a functional art of the machinemountin said shaft an terminatin at the other en in said nut recesses,nuts t readed onto said pipes, a non-rotatable washer slidable in saldcompartment, a disc of soft material removably secured to one face ofsaid washer and en aging said shoulder, said disc having ports terethrough spaced for registering with said pipes and depressed toconnect a number of said ports, ipes carried by said washer in alignmentwith said ports and projecting through the casing for operatlveCOIIIIBCtlOD- with apparatus, and compressed s rirgs urging said disctowards said sho der.

4. In a vacuum control mechanism for pulp molding machines and the like,a rotatable tubular shaft having a plug-like reduced portion rigidlysecured thereto at one end thereof forming a journal, a non-rotatablecasing mounted adjacent the reduced end of said shaft and formingtherewith a cylinder-like compartment, passages through said plug-likeportion for connection with a functional part of the machine mountingsaid shaft and opening into said compartment, a non-rotatable washerslidable in said compartment, a disc of soft material removably securedto one face of said washer and engaging said shoulder, said disc havingports therethrough spaced for registering with said passages anddepressed to connect a number of said ports, pipes carried, by saidWasher in alignment with said ports and pro- 'ectin throu h the casinfor o )era-tive connection with apparatus, and compressed springs urgingsaid disc towards said shoulder.

5. In a vacuum control mechanism for pulp molding machines and the like,a rotatable shaft formed with a shoulder to provide a reduced end forjournalling in a hearing, a non-rotatable casing mounted ad jacent thereduced end of said shaft and forming therewith a cylinder-likecompartment, passages in said shaft for connection with a functionalpart of the machine mounting said shaft and opening intosaidjcompartment, a non-rotatable Washer slidable -in said compartment,a disc of wax removably secured to one face of said washer and engagingsaid shoulder, said disc having ports therethrough spaced forregistering with said passages and depressed to connect a number of saidports, pipes carried by said washer in alignment with said ports andprojecting through the casing for operative connection with apparatus,and compressed springs urging said disc towards said shoulder.

6. In a vacuum control mechanism for pulp molding machines and the like,a rotatable shaft formed with a shoulder to provide a reduced end forjournalling in a bearing, a non-rotatable casing mounted adjacent thereduced end of said shaft and forming therewith a cylinder-likecompartment, passages in said shaft for connection with a functionalpart of the machine 7. In a Vacuum control mechanism for pulp moldingmachines and the like, a rotatable tubular shaft recessed to form an andperipheral shoulder, a plug-like portion secured in one end of saidshaftand having a reduced end extending out through said shaft forjournalling in a bearing, a nonrotatable casing mounted adjacent thereduced-end of said shaft and forming there with a cylinder-likecompartment, passages in said shaft for connection with a functionalpart of the machine mounting said shaft and opening into saidcompartment, a non-rotatable washer slidable in said compartment, a discof soft material removably secured to one face of said Washer andengaging said shoulder, said disc having ports thcrethrough spaced forregistering with said passages and depressed to connect a number of saidports, pipes carried by saidwasher in alignment with said ports and projecting through the casing for operative connection with apparatus, aring of soft material fitting in the recess in said shaft and sized toengage said casing, and compressed springs for urging said disc towardssaid plug-like portion.

Signed at the city of Toronto, this 15th day of September, 1927.

JAMES FLEMING LOW.

